a. [f. AMUSE v. + -IVE; by form-assoc. with abus-ive, diffus-ive, etc., which appear to be f. vbs. abuse, diffuse, but are really f. L. ppl. stems abūs-, diffūs-; thus abut-i, abūs-um, abūsīv-, abusive: see -IVE.] Such as to amuse.
† 1. Deceitful, illusive. Obs.
1728. Thomson, Spring, 215. Beholds th’ amusive arch before him fly, Then vanish quite away.
1760. Beattie, Poems (1831), 165. Th’ amusive dream of blameless fancy born.
† 2. Fitted to afford relaxation from graver concerns; recreative. Obs.
c. 1750. Shenstone, Wks., 1764, I. 112. Some for amusive tasks design’d, To sooth the certain ills of life.
1753. Hervey, Theron & Asp., I. 149. A cool refreshment and an amusive gloom.
3. Affording pleasing entertainment: a. engaging the attention, interesting; b. esp. (in later usage) fitted to tickle the fancy or excite the risible faculty.
1760. Beattie, Hope, II. ii. Prattling amusive in his accent meek.
1774. White, in Phil. Trans., LXV. 265. I have regarded these amusive birds with great attention.
a. 1824. Campbell, View fr. St. Leonard’s, 74. The earth-circling sea Has spires and mansions more amusive still—Men’s volant homes.
1842. Blackw. Mag., LI. 423/1. With a sprinkling of puns, a brace and a half of Latin quotations, and a fling at the bishops, would make an article for the Edinburgh Review, more spicy and amusive than any old ‘Blue and Yellow’ has favoured us with for many a long day.
1865. Reader, 25 Feb., 221/1. Abridging from a larger work so as to retain its most amusive features.
4. Tending to, aiming at amusement; whose object is amusement. rare.
1781. Hayley, Triumphs Temper, II. 95/27.
| The light SERENA to the window springs, | |
| On Curiosity’s amusive wings. |
1810. Coleridge, Friend, I. i. (1867), 5. Uranin must … leave the sons of verse to more amusive patronesses.
